Exclusive: BMW working on entry-level model below 1-Series, will be FWD

According to sources that spoke with egmCarTech, BMW recently held a clinic group study on the east coast and west coast to show owners a new entry-level hatchback. The model, which will fit below the 1-Series, will feature traditional BMW styling in hatchback form and will be built on the company’s upcoming front-wheel-drive platform.

BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer recently confirmed that the company is working on a front-wheel-drive architecture that will be the basis of a new range of entry-level models from the brand along with the next-generation Mini models.

Development boss Klaus Draeger has confirmed that the new front-wheel-drive architecture will debut in 2014 with the third-generation Mini. Draeger said that the sizes of the entry-level models will range between 3,800mm and 4,300mm long ““ that”s comparable to the Volkswagen Golf and Scirocco.

Are you looking forward to a BMW Volkswagen GTI rival? Because we definitely are.